“In Da Club”

“You’re really going out?” Carter pouted as he stared at me in my tight black dress. “I don’t want you to go out with someone else looking so hot.” His eyes traversed my body, and he gave me such a longing look that I almost canceled my plans then and there.

“What? Why not?” I gave him a look as I applied my new red lipstick. “I’m going with your sister, so it’s not like it’s a date or anything . . .” and then I paused to look at him and frowned. “Not that I can’t go on a date, of course.”

“Of course,” he said, his lips thin and his face suddenly sour. “You can do what you want, but you are carrying my baby now so please remember not to drink.”

“Uh-huh,” I said and tried not to roll my eyes. How convenient for him to remind me just as I was headed out for a night on the town. Like in the last few hours I had suddenly forgotten I was pregnant. “You know I’m not going to drink.”

“I know that . . .” he said and his voice trailed off. He walked over to me then and put his arms around my waist. I felt his hands sliding up to cup my breasts. “I’d just like us to have some time for us tonight. Just the two of us.” He laughed then. “I mean it’s not like you can get pregnant again.”

“Carter.” I bit down on my lower lip and laughed as I looked up at him. “Very funny.”

“We don’t have to bother with a condom anymore.” His eyes devoured me as I gazed at him. I could feel my resolve weakening. I wanted to stay home now. I wanted him to eat me up.

“Well, we didn’t always bother with the condom, did we?” I said while giving him a slight look. Not that I was trying to blame him. I mean, I’d been just as irresponsible. I’d been taught in high school that the pull-wout method was not an effective way to prevent pregnancies, but well, I hadn’t really cared that night. Apparently, neither did Carter since he made no attempt to pull out. I’d just wanted to feel him inside of me so badly. I’d been so hot for him. In fact, I was feeling even hotter for him right now as his fingers gently massaged my breasts and my nipples hardened.

“Wouldn’t you rather spend the night with me?” he asked as he leaned forward to kiss me in that way he knew that I loved; gently at first, but then more insistent.

“We can still have fun when I get back,” I said, feeling too prude to say fuck and too sober to say make love. I mean, the sex was hot, and I definitely had feelings for him, but I didn’t want to scare him off by saying make love.

“I want to fuck you so badly, Lila,” he growled as he slipped one of his hands up my dress and rested it between my legs. He obviously had no inhibitions about using the word. “Come here,” he said, and before I knew what was happening he had turned me around and bent me forward so that my stomach was resting on the chair. I heard his zipper going down as he slid my panties to the side, his finger grazing my clit roughly as he rubbed me. “You’re already wet,” he growled excitedly, and I felt the tip of his cock rubbing against my clit, already hard. “Tell me you want me,” he said as he placed himself at my opening. “Tell me you want me inside of you.”

“Carter,” I moaned as I closed my eyes, my body trembling in sweet anticipation. Of course, I wanted him. There hadn’t been a moment since we’d met that I hadn’t wanted him. And during the last week I had missed him more than I’d thought was possible and that had scared me. “We don’t have time for this.”

“Please,” he groaned as his cock rubbed me. I closed my eyes and tried not to fall to the ground. I was so horny and ready for him. “I’ll be fast.”

“Is that meant to be a good thing?” I laughed slightly, and then I backed my ass up against him. “Come on then, big boy,” I said, and my stomach curled as he growled behind me. I felt him sliding himself inside of me, and I cried out in ecstasy as I felt all of him deep inside of me. It was such an amazing feeling.

“Oh, how I’ve missed you, Lila.” He held onto my hips and thrust himself back and forth inside of me, and I gripped onto the chair tightly. I could feel all of his manhood deep in me, and I screamed with pleasure as he started going even faster, and then we heard the doorbell. “Fuck,” Carter groaned as he pulled out of me and zipped his pants up quickly. “My sister literally has the worst timing.”

“I told you we didn’t have enough time.” I moaned as I straightened and looked at his annoyed petulant face. I gave him a quick kiss, and he growled.

“You could always not go.”

“I’m going.” I shook my head.

“Take your panties off.” He lifted my dress up. “I want them.”

“Carter.” I blushed as his hands started to move my panties down.

“Something to keep me warm while you’re gone tonight.” He grinned as he pulled them all the way down, and I stepped out of them. “Coming,” he shouted as the doorbell rang again. He stuffed the panties in his pocket and then hurried to the front door. “Yes?” He almost shouted as he opened the door.

“Hey, bro.” Danielle sailed in, oblivious to the fact that she had just interrupted our lovemaking. “Lila, you look hot.” She whistled as she walked into the room. I stared at her in her glittery silver dress, and I had to say the same. She looked like a supermodel. I’d never seen her with a full face of makeup and high heels before.

“You look beautiful,” I said. “Doesn’t she, Carter?” He just grunted in response as his eyes narrowed. He looked at Danielle, and then he looked at me.

“Where are you guys going tonight?” he asked, his voice suspicious. “And is it just the two of you?”

“We’re going to dinner, and then we’re going dancing in the East Village.” Danielle rolled her eyes. “And in a nightclub, not the street.”

“Aren’t you two a bit old for a nightclub?” he said, and we both glared at him.

“We’re in our twenties, brother dearest. Would you rather us head out to church tonight?”

“I mean if you want to go to a midnight mass or something.” He grinned. “I’d have to suggest you both change though, can’t be slutting it up in church.”

“Carter.” I walked over and hit him in the shoulder. “Are you calling us sluts?”

“Nooooo.” He tried to kiss my cheek, and I ducked.

“Rude.”

“I was just joking.” He made a face, and Danielle laughed.

“Yeah, call him out Lila. He thinks he can be a manwhore and get away with it, but we’re meant to be Virgin Mary’s.” And then she made a face as she realized what she’d said. “Oops, well maybe none of us are exactly virgins.”

“Yeah, not quite.” I laughed, not offended at all. “Shall we go?”

“Yes. I’ll get the Uber.” Danielle pulled out her phone and started playing some music. “You can find me in da club, bottle full of bub,” she rapped along with 50 Cent as she danced around the room. Her excitement was infectious, and I started spinning my head around in time to the music.

“Go, Shorty, it’s your birthday, we’re going to party like it’s your birthday,” I sang and started dancing around as well. I looked at Carter and danced for him, swaying back and forth, my hands moving up and down his chest. He looked at me with dark eyes and a small smile on his lips. “You’re a bad girl.” He mouthed at me and I just winked at him.

“Uber will be here in five minutes,” Danielle said in an excited voice. “I’m going to find me a man tonight.”

“Yeah, girl,” I said and we high-fived, and Carter’s expression changed to one of annoyance again.

“Come with me a second,” he said as he grabbed my hand and pulled me toward the bedroom.

“We don’t have time, Carter,” I said as he closed the door behind me and gave me a deep kiss.

“I know.” He walked over to my drawer and started rifling through my underwear.

“What are you doing?” I frowned as he looked through my panties.

“Wear these.” He pulled out a pair of plain white cotton panties and handed them to me.

“What?” I blinked at him confused.

“No way in hell am I letting you go out to a dance club with no panties on,” he growled at me.

“You’re the one that took my panties,” I complained.

“Yeah and I’m keeping them.” He smirked at me. “Put these on.”

“I’m not wearing those.” I shook my head. “They are so not sexy.”

“You want to wear sexy panties?” He raised an eyebrow as he stared at me. “Why?”

“Carter!” I rolled my eyes at him. “Just give them to me.” I sighed and pulled on the granny panties. “This so ruins the vibe of my dress and heels.”

“When you get home, they’ll be off anyway, so don’t worry about it.” He pulled me toward him, and I felt his tongue in my mouth as he ran his hands down my hair to my back. “You can still cancel.”

“I’m not going to cancel.” I pulled away from him.

“I know.” He looked displeased. “Don’t stay out all night. Don’t flirt. Don’t kiss anyone. Don’t—” He stopped and then gave me a wry smile. “Okay, maybe I am a bit bossy.”

I just smiled at him. It was funny to see him like this. Annoying as hell, but a little bit nice as well.

“I’m coming home to you, Carter.”

“Good.” He kissed me on the nose. “Have fun tonight.”

“Are you going to stay here tonight then? Or are you going to go out?”

“I’ll stay here, watch some TV if you don’t mind. I want to be here when you get back home.”

“I won’t be out all night,” I said and gave him a huge kiss. His face looked so handsome, and I was so happy that he was here. However, a part of me was really sad that he was going to be leaving me to tour Canada. I was sure that the music execs would send him a contract to sign at some point soon. And I knew that as soon as he got the contract, he’d be gone. For two whole months. To Canada and the South. Granted, it wasn’t that far away, but it was still away from me. He’d be gone for two months. Two whole months. That was a really long time to be away from him. I didn’t want him to go, but I didn’t want to tell him that. I didn’t want to stop him from pursuing his dreams. It wasn’t fair.

“Uber’s here.” Danielle knocked on the door.

“Coming.” I walked over to the vanity and grabbed my small black Chanel clutch that I’d purchased with my first big paycheck from the firm. “Bye,” I said to Carter.

“Bye,” he said as I walked through the bedroom door. “Have a great night, girls.”

“Lila.” Dante’s warm voice sounded before I saw him. “What are you doing here?”

I looked around and saw him standing with his two cousins, Blake and Steele, both of whom were just as gorgeous as he was. It was unfair how their family genes were so perfect.

“I’m here with my friend, Danielle.” I introduced Dante to my friend. She was standing next to me with her mouth slightly ajar, and a flirtatious smile on her face. However, she wasn’t staring at Dante. She was staring at his cousin Steele. Interesting.

“Danielle, this is my good friend and workmate, Dante. These are his cousins, Blake and Steele Vanderbilt.” I gave all three of them a quick hug. “We decided to come out dancing tonight.”

“And your crazy boyfriend is okay with that?” Dante laughed, and I made a face at him.

“He’s not my boyfriend, and this is his sister.” I pointed at Danielle who just laughed.

“He is crazy. Trust me, I know that already.” She gave the boys her hand, and I noticed that Steele held onto it for slightly longer than was necessary. Interesting.

“So what are you guys up to?” I asked, surprised to see them at a dance club. They didn’t strike me as the sort of men to frequent dance clubs. I looked at them and they all grinned at me.

“We didn’t come to dance, if that’s what you were thinking.” Dante grinned. “We’re thinking about buying this club and some others owned by the same management company, so we wanted to check them out first.”

“Oh, nice, cool,” I said. I’d forgotten that Dante’s family was super rich, even outside of his partnership at the firm. He had to be a millionaire or a billionaire or something. You’d never know it to hang out with him. He didn’t act like a rich jerk, but it was in moments like this that I remembered he was dripping with gold and diamonds.

“Would you ladies like a drink?” Steele asked, but he wasn’t even looking at me.

“Yes, please,” Danielle said, and I just shook my head.

“Not drinking.”

“Oh?” Dante looked surprised. “Sober tonight.”

“And the next nine months.” I smiled at him.

“Nine months?” He looked confused and then it dawned on him and his eyes widened. “No way.” He looked at my stomach. “You’re pregnant.”

“Yup.” I grinned.

“Not by the jerk?” He shuddered in fake horror. At least I thought it was fake, anyways.

“Yes.”

“No way.” He shook his head at me and laughed. “You girls really are crazy.”

“Dante.” I poked him in the chest. “What does that mean?”

“Didn’t you see that Carter was a big player, he didn’t want a relationship, and isn’t he some sort of musician?” His hazel eyes bore into mine. “And let’s not forget how jealous and possessive he is, not a great combination.”

“It’s only because he loves her.” Danielle spoke up for her brother.

“He doesn’t love me.” I shook my head vehemently, slightly sad at that fact. I wished he loved me, but there was no way he did. Hadn’t he just told me he didn’t want to marry me? My heart was still aching from hurt by that comment.

“Trust me, he does.” Danielle rubbed my shoulder. “He might not know it yet, but I see the way he looks at you. He loves you.” She smiled at me. “He’s a big doofus that’s never had to deal with emotions before. He’ll get it. Eventually. I hope.”

“I hope so.” Dante looked doubtful. “How are you feeling about it all?” he asked me softly, his face concerned. “You doing okay?”

“Yeah.” I nodded and gave him a quick smile. “I’m good. Really good. My parents aren’t super happy that I’m going to be an unwed mother, but they are still supporting me.” I rubbed his shoulder. “Thanks for asking.”

“Let’s get lunch next week,” Dante said. “We can talk more then.”

“Sounds good.” I smiled at him. “Are you guys still getting a drink?”

“Yeah, you guys wanna do it?” Dante asked his cousins. Blake looked slightly bored as he stood there, but Steele was grinning from ear to ear as he chatted with Danielle.

“Hello, drinks on me. Follow me, guys.” Steele headed toward the side of the club, and we all followed him. I was slightly taken aback that the plan for the night had changed. I wasn’t sure how much dancing we would end up doing, but I knew from our talk at dinner that Danielle was sad that she hadn’t gotten to meet anyone special recently. I would let her have the evening to flirt with Steele. I didn’t need to dance up a storm.

“You’re home.” Carter opened the door for me as I fiddled with my keys. He was beaming at me through sleepy eyes, and my heart expanded with love for him. I reached over and ran my hands through his hair as I walked through the door.

“What are you doing up? It’s late,” I said as I closed the door behind me and slipped off my heels. “Ugh, my feet are killing me.”

“It’s only three a.m.” He looked at his watch. “Tsk, Tsk, Cinderella, you’re back late.”

“I was out dancing with my Prince Charming, ugly stepsister.”

“Oh yeah?” His eyes glittered as he pulled me toward him. “So who was there tonight?”

“It was just me and Danielle,” I lied, feeling guilty, but not wanting to have to get into any arguments related to Dante again. “We had a delicious sushi dinner and then went dancing.”

“You guys were dancing all night long?” He looked impressed. “With each other or . . .?”

“Carter, really?” I leaned forward and kissed him. “I didn’t do anything with any other guys. Even though we aren’t really defined as anything, anyway,” I said pointedly.

“I know.” He ran his hands through my hair. “You sure look sexy,” he said and then yawned widely.

“You sure look sexy too, sleepyhead.” I giggled as I took a hold of his hand. “Let’s go to bed and get some sleep.”

“I wanted to . . .” He started, and I cut him off.

“You really have the energy for sex right now, Carter?”

“Someone’s making an assumption,” he said as he lightly tapped my ass. “I was going to say I wanted to talk.”

“Oh, okay.” I laughed and pulled my dress off as we walked into my bedroom. “Shoot,” I said as I turned around to face him.

“I’m oddly turned on right now,” he said. “That’s a very hot see-through bra and those panties, mmm.” He licked his lips. “Hello, Granny.”

“Carter.” I smacked him on the arm. “You’re horrible.”

“I know.” He bit down on his lower lip and smiled. “Come to bed.”

“Hold on.” I removed my bra, and I heard his audible intake of breath as he stared at my naked breasts. I loved the way he reacted to my naked body. It made me feel so sexy and seductive. “Put your hands up,” I said, and he did so without answering as I pulled his T-shirt off. I then put it on and clambered to the bed.

“No fair,” he said as he followed me. “I thought we were both going to be topless.”

“I guess you thought wrong then, sucker.” I laughed.

“I still win though.” He grinned at me as we climbed under the sheets. “You look sexy as hell in my T-shirt.”

“Uh-huh.” I blushed as he stared at me with a long intense look of desire.

“Come here.” He pulled me into his arms, and I rested my head against his chest as we lay back. “I really, really missed you while you were gone. I’m so happy you’re back.”

“I’m happy to be back too,” I said softly, my heart filling with love for him. I wanted to be able to tell him how much I adored him, but I didn’t want to ruin the moment.

“So, I guess I’ve been thinking, and I wanted to tell you that I know I’m probably not your first choice to be a father to your child, but I will do my best to be the best dad possible. This is all really new to me, and I don’t really know what I’m meant to say and do. I’ve never really been in a serious relationship before, and I obviously have no kids, so this is all a learning experience for me. I want to be the best man I can be for you, Lila, but I also don’t know what that means in terms of what I can give. I want to be honest with you because you’re really special to me. I just want us to take this day by day. Is that okay?” His voice was serious and sincere, and I knew that he must have spent the whole night thinking about what to say. His words touched me, but I was saddened but what he’d said. It wasn’t good enough for me. I didn’t want to take it day by day. But I knew I couldn’t push him for more. This had been my own fault for getting involved with someone I knew was a playboy and not looking for a committed relationship. I’d thought I’d just wanted to have some fun as well, but I should have known better. I’d never been the sort of girl that could just hook up and not develop feelings. And now this is where I was, pregnant by a man I loved who didn’t really know what he wanted from me.

“I understand where you’re coming from, Carter,” I said softly, and he kissed the top of my head. “I’m really tired now though, do you mind if we talk tomorrow?” I faked a long and tired yawn and closed my eyes to stop the tears that were threatening to fall.

“Okay, darling,” he whispered and kissed my forehead. “Sweet dreams.”

“Night, Carter,” I whispered back, and my hand stroked the side of his arm as I drifted off to sleep. I breathed in his natural body odor, and I felt myself calming as I drifted off to sleep. There was nothing I could do to make him love me as I loved him, but maybe this could be enough for me.